Quest's early Alzheimer's detection test: cash-grab scam?
Quest's early Alzheimer's detection test: cash-grab scam?
Almost anyone can take this quick test for Alzheimer’s without even going to the doctor. Some neurologists are saying it’s a terrible idea.
“Why Neurologists Are Calling Quest Rapid Alzheimer’s Test ‘an Absolute Catastrophe’”
TLDR by a real person:
Quest Diagnostics has released its Quest AD-Detect™ blood test for $400.
Problems:
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The test has a high rate of false positives—29% false positives.
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Tests are easy to misinterpret. They only tell you if you MIGHT get Alzheimer’s… with a 29% false positive rate.
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The test looks for beta-amyloid proteins, one hallmark of Alzheimer’s. But the buildup of these proteins hasn’t been studied in a large enough cross-section of the population to lead to any conclusions.
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Symptoms that look a lot like Alzheimer’s can be caused by a wide range of other things. If you misinterpret the test as meaning you have Alzheimer’s, you could miss some other serious conditions.